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Median personal income in the US is $40,480 as of 2022 [1]. That puts the Civic at 57%.

Moreover, Dodge was a mid-level marque in 1950. The proper comparison would be the Plymouth Deluxe, Chrysler’s entry-level full-size car, which had an base price of $1,386 [2], which comes out to 42% of income.

[1]: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MEPAINUSA646N [2]: https://www.jdpower.com/cars/1950/plymouth/deluxe/2-door-cou...

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All right then. If we're going entry level, let's go entry level. That's the Kia Rio LX at $16450[0]. We'll select the column that says "wife not in paid labor force"[1] from the census statistics for 1950 since we're going with solo income so that's $3315.

Let's do the math:

- 2023: 16450/40480 is 40.6%

- 1950: 1386/3315 is 41.8%

Even if it were 42% to 57% that's nowhere near 2 cars comfortably then and not now. And that's not even counting that the Kia Rio is a futuristic marvel compared to the older vehicle.

This other business about the cars being more affordable seems like a total fiction.

0: https://www.kbb.com/kia/rio/

1: https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/1952/demographi...

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